NIAGARA FALLS, Canada — U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has urged international partners to halt weapons supplies to Sudan’s paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), following reports of mass killings in el-Fasher.
Speaking after a G7 foreign ministers meeting, Rubio accused the RSF of committing systematic atrocities, including murder, rape, and sexual violence against civilians. “They’re committing acts of sexual violence and atrocities, just horrifying atrocities, against women, children, innocent civilians of the most horrific kind. And it needs to end immediately,” he said.
Accusations Against UAE
Sudan’s army alleges the United Arab Emirates has supplied the RSF with weapons and mercenaries via African nations. Both the UAE and RSF deny the claims. Investigations by international media, deemed credible by the UN, have pointed to UAE-linked arms shipments.
Rubio stopped short of directly criticizing Abu Dhabi, noting the U.S. is working with the UAE, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia — allies of Sudan’s military-led government — as part of the Quad initiative to end the war.
Humanitarian Crisis
The RSF captured el-Fasher last month after an 18-month siege, consolidating control over all major cities in Darfur. Satellite imagery shows evidence of massacres, with piles of bodies visible from space. Non-Arab groups in Darfur are being systematically targeted in what the U.S. and humanitarian groups describe as genocide.
The conflict, which began in April 2023, has killed more than 150,000 people and displaced about 12 million, creating what the G7 called “the world’s largest humanitarian crisis.”
Arms Flow and Denials
Amnesty International reports weapons from Serbia, Russia, China, Turkey, Yemen, and the UAE are being used in Sudan, often smuggled via Chad into Darfur. The RSF is also accused of using the UAE as a marketplace for illicit gold sales.
The RSF denies receiving external support, blaming the Sudanese army for rejecting ceasefire initiatives. The UAE, meanwhile, has accused Sudan’s army of “starvation tactics” and indiscriminate bombardment, claims the army denies.
International Pressure
Calls are growing for a stronger UN arms embargo, which currently applies only to Darfur. The UK government has faced criticism over allegations that British-made weapons ended up in RSF hands, though officials insist strict export controls are in place.
Despite repeated ceasefire proposals, fighting continues, with little sign of resolution.